Patent application title: Auxiliary Machine for Labelling Machines

Abstract:

An auxiliary machine for labelling machines of the type including a supply
of labels (10) for application on packages (4) for goods and a thermal
printer (6) for the provision of informative prints on the labels, is
provided. The auxiliary machine has a stand (14) connectable to the
labelling machine and on which there is supported a supply of coverings
(16), which are detachably attached to a tape (23), a mechanism for
advancing the tape (23) to a picking tool (20) for picking off individual
coverings from the tape and applying the same on individual labels (10),
as well as a dispenser (19) for the discharge of a substance loading on
the individual label. Advantageously, in the auxiliary machine, a
stamping tool (25) may also be included for stamping of cavities in the
coverings or labels.

Claims:

1. Auxiliary machine for labelling machines of the type that includes a
supply of labels (10) for application on packages for goods, as well as a
thermal printer (6) for the provision of informative prints on the
labels, wherein the same comprises a stand (14) that is connectable to
the labelling machine (1) and on which there is supported a supply of
coverings (16), which are detachably attached to a tape (23), a mechanism
(30, 24, 22) for advancing the tape (23) to a picking tool (20) having
the purpose of picking off individual coverings from the tape (23) and
applying the same on individual labels (10), as well as a dispenser (19)
for the discharge of a substance loading (15) on the individual label.

2. Auxiliary machine according to claim 1, wherein the same comprises a
stamping tool (25) for the formation of a cavity (28) in the individual
covering (16) or the individual label (10).

3. Auxiliary machine according to claim 2, wherein the stamping tool (25)
is placed upstream the picking tool (20) as viewed in the feeding
direction (C) of the covering-carrying tape (23) to form a cavity (28) in
the individual covering before the same is applied on a label.

4. Auxiliary machine according to claim 2, wherein the stamping tool (25)
is placed downstream the picking tool (20) and the dispenser (19) as
viewed in the feeding direction (C) of the covering-carrying tape (23) to
form a cavity (28) in the individual label (10) before the dispenser (19)
applies a substance loading to the same.

5. Auxiliary machine according to claim 2, wherein the stamping tool (25)
and the picking tool (20) is arranged above the covering-carrying tape
(23) in a vertical plane common to the same, while the dispenser (19) is
located beside said vertical plane to apply the substance loading (15) to
the individual label (10) before the picking tool applies a covering (16)
on the label.

6. Auxiliary machine according to claim 1, wherein the stand (14) includes
an upright (17) and a boom protruding from the same and in which the
picking tool (20) and the dispenser (19) are fixed, and a supply reel
(21) for the covering-carrying tape (23), as well as a feed reel (22) for
the tape are arranged on the boom, more precisely between the upright
(17) and the picking tool (20).

7. Auxiliary machine according to claim 3, wherein the stamping tool (25)
and the picking tool (20) is arranged above the covering-carrying tape
(23) in a vertical plane common to the same, while the dispenser (19) is
located beside said vertical plane to apply the substance loading (15) to
the individual label (10) before the picking tool applies a covering (16)
on the label.

8. Auxiliary machine according to claim 2, wherein the stand (14) includes
an upright (17) and a boom protruding from the same and in which the
picking tool (20) and the dispenser (19) are fixed, and a supply reel
(21) for the covering-carrying tape (23), as well as a feed reel (22) for
the tape are arranged on the boom, more precisely between the upright
(17) and the picking tool (20).

9. Auxiliary machine according to claim 3, wherein the stand (14) includes
an upright (17) and a boom protruding from the same and in which the
picking tool (20) and the dispenser (19) are fixed, and a supply reel
(21) for the covering-carrying tape (23), as well as a feed reel (22) for
the tape are arranged on the boom, more precisely between the upright
(17) and the picking tool (20).

10. Auxiliary machine according to claim 4, wherein the stand (14)
includes an upright (17) and a boom protruding from the same and in which
the picking tool (20) and the dispenser (19) are fixed, and a supply reel
(21) for the covering-carrying tape (23), as well as a feed reel (22) for
the tape are arranged on the boom, more precisely between the upright
(17) and the picking tool (20).

11. Auxiliary machine according to claim 5, wherein the stand (14)
includes an upright (17) and a boom protruding from the same and in which
the picking tool (20) and the dispenser (19) are fixed, and a supply reel
(21) for the covering-carrying tape (23), as well as a feed reel (22) for
the tape are arranged on the boom, more precisely between the upright
(17) and the picking tool (20).

12. Auxiliary machine according to claim 7, wherein the stand (14)
includes an upright (17) and a boom protruding from the same and in which
the picking tool (20) and the dispenser (19) are fixed, and a supply reel
(21) for the covering-carrying tape (23), as well as a feed reel (22) for
the tape are arranged on the boom, more precisely between the upright
(17) and the picking tool (20).

Description:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001]This invention relates to an auxiliary machine for labelling
machines of the type that includes a supply of labels for application on
packages for goods as well as a thermal printer for the provision of
informative prints on the labels.

PRIOR ART

[0002]Labelling machines of the type mentioned above are widely used in
packing plants for the preparation of goods and packages for goods prior
to commercialization. For instance, such plants may be available at
different suppliers of goods to the convenience goods trade, and
sometimes also at tradesmen themselves. The predominant technique for the
application of the requisite informative print, such as bar-codes and
information about price, weight, origin of goods, etc., is carried out by
means of a thermal printer in combination with a particular selection of
material in the labels. More precisely, the labels are provided with a
dye having the ability to produce a print by the effect of heat.
Frequently, the thermal printer is electronically connected to a balance
that is built-in into a conveyor included in the plant, on which conveyor
the individual packages for goods pass the labelling machine after having
been processed in a number stations, e.g., for filling, preservation,
sealing, etc.

[0003]Certain goods, in particular foods, have a limited shelf life and
have for this reason to be stored at low temperatures. For instance,
quick-frozen foods should be stored below -18° C., while chilled
products can be stored at higher temperatures, e.g., up to +4° C.
and +8° C., respectively.

[0004]In order to obviate the risk that unfresh goods reach the market,
recently, techniques to monitor the temperature holding in the
refrigerating and freezing chain from the supplier to the customer have
been developed, more precisely by making the labels of the packages for
goods in such a way that reading of the bar-codes thereof is made
impossible if the temperature of the goods during a certain time exceeds
the prescribed maximum value. Thus, in SE 0501607-6, there is disclosed a
label manufactured from a porous substrate, e.g., paper, having a
considerable capillary absorption capacity, the substrate being supplied
with a loading of a substance that contains a contrast-destroying agent
and is of the type that is solid up to a fixed temperature, but becomes
liquid above the same, the substance loading being placed beside the
bar-code of the label. In such a way, the code bars remain intact and
distinctly readable as long as the highest allowable temperature value is
not exceeded. Not until when and if the temperature value is exceeded,
and the substance trans-forms into the liquid state, the readability of
one or more code bars is destroyed in an irreversible way. Such
destruction of the contrast of the code bars to the base colour of the
label can be achieved by the fact that the substance contains components
that affect the colour of the code bars. For instance, a substance
component may be used that activates the previously unutilized dye in the
thermal-printable layer that surrounds the individual code bars, in order
to, in such a way, colour the substrate around the bars, so that the same
are concealed and become unreadable. Alternatively, the substance may
contain a component that bleaches the colour of the printed code bars.

[0005]In said patent document, there is also disclosed a machine for the
application of labels of the kind in question on packages for goods. In
said machine, there are included, on one hand, a supply of labels in the
form of a tape rolled up onto a reel and to which labels are detachably
attached, and on the other hand a mechanism to advance the tape toward a
picking tool by means of which the labels can be released from the tape
and applied on passing packages for goods. Furthermore, there are
included a thermal printer and (as viewed in the feeding direction of the
tape) a nozzle placed downstream the same for the application of
substance loadings on the individual labels. Between the nozzle and the
picking tool, furthermore there is arranged a tool for applying coverings
on the substance loadings applied on the labels with the purpose of
enclosing said loadings in cavities that communicate with the porous
label substrates.

[0006]A disadvantage of the above-mentioned machine is, however, that the
discharge nozzle for the substance loadings as well as the tool for the
application of coverings on the labels are integrated with the other
machine components in the form of the label supply, the tape-feed
mechanism and the thermal printer. This means that existing,
well-functioning labelling machines cannot be used to produce labels
having the desired temperature-monitoring function without requiring
extensive and expensive reconstructions.

OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

[0007]The present invention aims at obviating the above-mentioned
disadvantages of the machine in question and at providing improved
conditions to cost-effectively produce goods-package labels having an
inherent temperature-monitoring capacity. A primary object of the
invention is therefore to provide a structurally simple auxiliary
machine, which in an adaptable way can be connected to existing,
conventional labelling machines and in cooperation with the same allow
the production of inexpensive labels having a good temperature-monitoring
capacity.

[0008]According to the invention, the above-mentioned object is attained
by the features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1.
Preferred embodiments of the auxiliary machine according to the invention
are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS

[0009]In the drawings:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a simplified, schematic side view that illustrates a
labelling machine of known type shown with dash-dotted lines, as well as
an auxiliary machine according to the invention shown with solid lines,

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the known labelling machine, as well
as a second, alternative design of the auxiliary machine according to the
invention,

[0012]FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of the auxiliary machine according
to FIG. 1,

[0013]FIG. 4 is an analogous side view showing the auxiliary machine in an
additional design according to the invention,

[0014]FIG. 5 is a detailed view showing a first design of a covering for
enclosing a substance loading on a label, and

[0015]FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing another design of the covering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016]In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 designates generally a labelling machine of
previously known type, while 2 designates an auxiliary machine according
to the invention. The labelling machine 1 is installed above a conveyor
3, e.g., a belt conveyor, on which packages 4 for goods are advanced in
the direction of the arrow A. This conveyor is included in a plant in
which the goods in question are prepared for later commercialization. If
the goods consist of foods, in the plant, there may be included one or
more, stations (not shown) for filling, preservation, and packaging,
which are situated upstream the conveyor 3. In the conveyor 3, a balance
5 is built-in, which is electronically connected to a thermal printer 6,
such as is outlined by the dashed line in FIG. 1. After the packages for
goods have been provided with labels by means of the two machines 1, 2,
the packages may be fed further to one or more additional processing
stations, e.g., for wrapping up into multi packages.

[0017]The different components included in the labelling machine 1 are
supported by a stand 7, which generally has an elongate shape. At one end
of the stand, there is mounted a reel 8 onto which a tape 9 is rolled up,
on which labels 10 are detachably attached. Via a pair of drive rollers
11A as well as a number of deflection rollers 11, the label tape 9 can be
fed in the direction of the arrow B toward a return roller 12, which by
being drivable assists in feeding the tape. In the rear end of the
machine, a picking tool 13 is included, by means of which the labels can
be released one by one from the tape 9 and applied on the packages 4 for
goods on the conveyor 3 that are passing under the picking tool.

[0018]As far as the shown labelling machine 1 has been described hitherto,
the same can perform the simple task of providing the labels with prints
generated by heat, and apply the printed labels on the packages for
goods. Such as mentioned previously, the prints in question may, in
addition to a bar-code, include information about the weight, origin,
best-before date, etc., of the goods.

[0019]The secondary machine or auxiliary machine 2 according to the
invention includes a stand, in its entirety designated 14, which supports
the different components required to complete the processed labels with a
temperature-monitoring function. More precisely, the auxiliary machine 2
includes components to supply the individual label 10 (see FIG. 5) with a
loading 15 of a substance having the ability to destroy the contrast of
one or more bars in the printed bar-code, as well as with a covering 16
having the purpose of enclosing the applied substance loading.

[0020]Reference is now made to FIG. 3, which on an enlarged scale
illustrates the embodiment of the auxiliary machine according to the
invention shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the stand 14 includes an upright
17 and a jib or boom 18, which at the free end thereof supports a
dispenser 19 as well as a picking tool 20. Under the boom 18, two reels
are mounted, namely an upper supply reel 21 and a lower, drivable return
reel 22 for a tape 23 on which coverings 16 are detachably attached. By
means of a pair of drive rollers 30 and the drivable reel 22, the tape 23
can be fed in the direction of the arrow C past a number of deflection
rollers 24.

[0021]In the shown, preferred design, between the supply reel 21 and the
picking tool 20, a stamping tool 25 is arranged for stamping of at least
one cavity in the individual covering 16. For this purpose, the tool 25
includes a fixed die 26 having a protruding male member, and a movable
stamp 27 having a downwardly open seat into which the male member can be
pressed. When an originally plane covering of, for instance, a plastic
material having a certain inherent rigidity is stamped by pressing
together the stamp and the die, in the covering, there is formed an
arched portion that delimits a cavity 28 (see FIG. 5) in which the
substance loading 15 is accommodated.

[0022]The dispenser 19 includes a nozzle 29 by means of which individual
substance loadings 15 can be applied with a good precision to desired
spots along the passing labels 10. In the design according to FIG. 3, the
picking tool 20 is placed between the dispenser 19 and the stamping tool
25. More precisely, the components 19, 20, 25 are arranged one after the
other in a vertical plane, the length extension of which is determined by
the boom 18. Accordingly, like the labelling machine 1, the auxiliary
machine 2 has also a certain length extension. As is seen in FIG. 1, the
machines 1 and 2 are placed aligned with each other, i.e., in a common
vertical plane, at the front end of the jib 18, the dispenser 19 and the
picking tool 20 being located above the label tape, more precisely
downstream the thermal printer 6 and upstream the picking tool 13 as
viewed in the feeding direction B of the label tape.

[0023]The described auxiliary machine operates in the following way. When
the individual label 10, after having been supplied with a print (among
other things a bar-code or other coded information) by means of the
thermal printer 6, passes the dispenser 19, a substance loading 15 is
applied to the same via the precision nozzle 29. Simultaneously,
coverings 16 are completed by initially plane coverings being fed out
from the supply reel 21 and stamped in the way described by means of the
tool 25. From the tape 23, the individual covering 16 is released by
means of the picking tool 20, which, by being movable in the area between
the two tapes 9, 23, can transfer the covering to the passing label
having been supplied with the substance loading. By means of the picking
tool 20, the covering is fixedly pressed onto the label while enclosing
the substance loading. Finally, the picking tool 13 removes the prepared
label from the tape 9 and transfers the same to the individual package 4
for goods that passes along the conveyor 3. It is worth mentioning that
one and the same adhesive that detachably adheres the labels 10 to the
tape 9 and the coverings 16 to the tape 23, respectively, is utilized for
the application of, on one hand, the labels on the packages 4 for goods,
and on the other hand the coverings 16 on the labels 10. The feed of the
two tapes may advantageously take place intermittently in motion patterns
that are synchronized not only mutually, but also with the conveyor 3.

[0024]In the alternative design according to FIG. 2, the auxiliary machine
2 is mounted beside the labelling machine 1, more precisely perpendicular
to the same. A stamping tool 25 and a picking tool 20 are also in this
case arranged in a common vertical plane along a boom 18. On the other
hand, the dispenser 19 is situated beside said vertical plane to apply
the individual substance loading to the intended label before the picking
tool 20 applies a covering on the same. In other words, the dispenser 19
is still located upstream the picking tool as viewed in the feeding
direction of the label tape, in spite of the auxiliary machine being
angled in relation to the main machine.

[0025]Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which illustrates an additional
alternative design of the auxiliary machine according to the invention.
In this case, a stamping tool 25 is mounted at the front end of the
auxiliary machine, i.e., at the free end of the boom 18, the dispenser 19
being placed between the stamping tool 25 and a rear picking tool 20. In
this case, the stamping tool 25 has the purpose of forming a cavity 28 in
the label 10 instead of in the covering 16. In other words, in this case
the covering 16 can retain the plane, simple shape thereof because the
substance loading 15 can be housed in the cavity of the label. In this
connection, it should be pointed out that the volume of the substance
loading in practice may be extremely small, e.g., on the order of 1-25
μl.

[0026]A fundamental advantage of the auxiliary machine according to the
invention is that the same, in a simple and adaptable way, can be
connected to existing labelling machines regardless the concrete design
and placement thereof. By means of the auxiliary machine, therefore
conventional labels can be cost-effectively completed with a
temperature-monitoring function.

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

[0027]The invention is not limited only to the embodiments described above
and shown in the drawings. Thus, it is feasible to provide the cavities
in the coverings and/or the labels requisite for the substance loadings
in another way than by means of the stamping tool shown in the drawings.
In addition, in each covering and label, respectively, it is feasible to
form two or more cavities for a plurality of substance loadings.
Furthermore, the stand of the auxiliary machine may be formed in other
ways than the one described above.